All are common landscape trees and produce spiky pods around their seeds.
The spines help protect the seeds from being eaten by critters likebirds and squirrels.
Here’s what each of the pods looks like.
Credit:BHG / Evgeniya Vlasova
Closely related is the common horsechestnut (A. hippocastanum).
It is 50-75 feet tall and usually has seven leaflets rather than five.
Ohio buckeye turns orange-red to reddish-brown in fall; horsechestnuts turn yellow or brown.
Credit: Denny Schrock
Unlike actual chestnuts, the nuts ofAesculusspecies are toxic to people if eaten.
Chinese chestnut (C. mollissima) or hybrids between the two species are more likely to be found nowadays.
The leaves are oval-shaped with serrated edges.Fall color is yellow or bronze.
Credit: Ed Gohlich
The green ball-shaped fruits appear in early summer and remain on the tree until fall.
The burs split open when ripe, revealing 1 to 4 edible nuts inside.
Fall color can be quite dramatic, with a combination of yellows, reds, and purples.
Credit: Dean Schoeppner
The spiny fruit may be used in craft projects or as mulch todeter rabbits in the garden.
Buckeye seeds are toxic to most animals, though squirrels eat them without problem.
To rid trees of spiky balls,hire an arborist.
If they’ve fallen to the ground, use a close-tined rake and dispose of them in the trash.
The seeds will need time for drying out andstratification before they’re ready for planting.
You should avoid mowing over sweet gum balls because they could damage your lawnmower.
They could also accidentally get pushed further into the ground by your mower.
It’s best to rake up the balls with a close-tined rake and bag them before you mow.
